Chapter 670

Chapter 670: The Cold Indifference

Shan Shan’s grand plan to leap off the cliff ultimately failed.

Dong Ling was a land of breathtaking landscapes, filled with towering peaks and unique rock formations. It often attracted scholars and poets, who would ascend these heights to recite poetry and paint, basking in the serenity of nature.

Xuan Ji Chuan was a remarkable strategist.

Upon ascending to power, he discovered that even people from neighboring nations admired the scenic beauty of these mountains. Seizing the opportunity, he had stairways built from the base of the mountain. At the summit, he placed a worn, unremarkable boulder and proclaimed it a divine stone, said to have gathered the essence of heaven and earth since the dawn of time. He claimed that kneeling before it in devotion and touching its surface would bring fortune.

Then, at intervals along the stairs, he constructed elegant pavilions and encouraged local villagers to set up stalls, selling a variety of delicacies, incense, paper offerings, and beautifully crafted lanterns.

Lastly, he implemented an entrance fee at the base of the mountain.

According to Xuan Ji Chuan, common folk already struggled to survive; they would hardly expend energy on mere sightseeing like the idle scholars. Only the wealthy, who had full bellies and idle time, would engage in such leisure.

Thus…

The Cloud Terrace Mountain outside the city had an entrance fee.

And Shan Shan—he didn’t even have enough to afford the fee to jump off the cliff.

He returned home cursing, tears streaming down his face. “Don’t bully a poor child!”

Behind him, A-Man muttered, “Don’t bully a poor child.”

“Don’t bully a young man for being poor…”

“Don’t bully a middle-aged man for being poor…”

“Don’t bully an old man for being poor…”

Shan Shan whirled around, gritting his teeth at her before wailing aloud, covering his face as he bolted into his room. He threw himself onto his bed and cried his heart out.

Too much!

This was just too much! Sometimes, he truly wanted to destroy the world!

“Stop crying and come eat dinner. A real man shouldn’t be sniveling like this.” Lu Chao Chao peeked her head in, teasing him with the exaggerated tone of an old village granny.

Shan Shan, still lying face down with his rear sticking up, lifted his head indignantly. “Hmph! I’ll never talk to you again!”

Hmph! Return my treasure hoard!

Not only did she swindle away his treasure trove, but now she had the nerve to mock his crying!

“Tonight’s dinner includes your favorite pork knuckle. Still not coming?” Lu Chao Chao tilted her head, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Shan Shan pursed his lips. “No! I won’t eat! Shan Shan has dignity!”

Lu Chao Chao gave him a glance. Strange—since waking up this morning, this little troublemaker had been carrying a fire in his belly, looking for an excuse to cause a fuss. Hadn’t he reunited with his subordinates?

She decided not to bother with him and turned back to enjoy her meal.

Shan Shan, still pouting, clenched his small fists in determination. His baby teeth glinted as he swore to himself, “I, I swear upon the Seven Sins, I will never, ever eat charity food!”

“From now on, I will be a ruthless man!”

“From this day forth, I shall never smile! Never speak!”

He raised his chubby little fists, determined to make Lu Chao Chao regret her actions! He would force her to realize the pain she had inflicted upon him!

He would make Lu Chao Chao weep, begging him, “Shan Shan, I was wrong! Please go back to how you were before!”

The more he thought about it, the more he delighted in his own tragic resolve. As he sobbed, a chuckle escaped him.

Then, he immediately tensed his face. No! He was a cold, indifferent man now.

That night, he endured hunger, refusing to eat a single bite, stubbornly falling asleep with an empty stomach.

Outside, the nursemaid carried a bowl of steaming fish soup, filled with tender fish meatballs and garnished with finely chopped celery leaves, emitting a rich, appetizing fragrance.

Standing by the door, Lu Chao Chao listened as the nursemaid murmured, “The young master has never gone to bed hungry. I fear he’ll have trouble sleeping. If I coax him, he should take a few bites.”

Just as they were about to enter, Shan Shan, half-asleep, muttered in his dreams, “Punish sister, punish sister…”

“Sister, kneel… admit your mistake…” As he mumbled, his lips curled into a grin, his baby teeth gleaming.

The nursemaid stood frozen with the bowl in her hands.

This child was truly seeking death.

Lu Chao Chao’s expression remained unmoved, her smile cold and detached. “Nursemaid, I don’t think he needs it. Do you?”

The nursemaid silently turned around, carrying the bowl away.

“Just pretend I was never here,” she muttered. What could she say? The young master was already plotting to punish his sister and make her kneel.

The nursemaid swiftly retreated, her steps light as if fleeing from impending disaster.

That night, in another room, A-Wu sat hunched over, drenched in cold sweat, her face twisted in agony, enduring an unimaginable pain.

In the dim candlelight, a massive phoenix silhouette spread its wings behind her.

Yet, intertwined with the phoenix’s shadow, a faint dragon form could also be seen.

The simultaneous manifestation of both Dragon and Phoenix—this was the long-awaited sign of their shared ruler.

She bore the blood of the Ancestral Dragon and the Ancestral Phoenix.

A-Wu trembled violently, her sweat soaking through her garments as she writhed in pain upon the bed. The dragon and phoenix figures gradually shrank before dissipating altogether.

Her entire body was slick with perspiration, her damp hair clinging to her pale face, her fingertips trembling from exhaustion.

She took a deep breath. She could wait no longer.

The stronger the child grew, the more power it required. Recently, she could feel the child restraining itself, drawing less energy from her body.

If this continued, it might not be able to be born successfully.

Outside, footsteps approached.

“A-Wu, you… you need to drink some medicine,” Zhu Mo cautiously entered, carrying a bowl. Seeing her collapsed in bed, too weak to even sit up, his heart ached, tears welling in his eyes.

He rushed to support her, his sorrow nearly overflowing.

“The medicine won’t help me. Husband…” A-Wu whispered, leaning against him, her eyes brimming with tears. She could feel him trembling.

“It will, it will! A-Wu, don’t be afraid. I will stay with you. I will scour the Three Realms for any treasure that might save you.” Zhu Mo gently fed her the medicine. A-Wu grimaced slightly as she swallowed.

“Husband, why does this medicine taste of blood? But… its spiritual energy is stronger. My body no longer aches.”

Zhu Mo’s face paled slightly. Dragon blood—nothing was more potent.

“I will find a true remedy. You will be fine,” he whispered, his fear growing. He could see A-Wu weakening by the day.

After she finished the medicine, he gently wiped her lips.

“Husband, being able to bear your child is my greatest happiness. If I lack the fate to survive, you must promise me—raise our child well. Will you promise me?” She clutched his hand tightly, her knuckles white.

“A-Wu, I won’t let anything happen to you!” Zhu Mo’s eyes were bloodshot, his voice trembling with desperation.

“Promise me!” she insisted, gripping his hand harder.

Under her insistence, Zhu Mo finally broke. He pulled her into his arms, his tears falling freely as he muttered over and over, “You’ll be fine. You must be fine.”

After coaxing her to sleep, he kissed her brow and stepped outside.

In the dark, he held his head in his hands, his eyes bloodshot.

“You’ll be fine. You must be fine.”

“A-Wu… the Dragon Lord, A-Wu… the hope of the Dragon Clan… just hold on… hold on…”

He whispered desperately.

Inside, A-Wu’s eyes fluttered open, her gaze calm and indifferent.

Love? What even was that?

The cheapest, most worthless thing in existence.